In a development that probably pleased an assortment of fantasy GMs tied to Colts wide receivers, Joe Flacco stepped in after Anthony Richardson‘s minor hip injury and stabilized Indianapolis’ passing attack Sunday. The NFL’s second-oldest active quarterback, behind Aaron Rodgers, showed he remains a viable relief option.
Flacco executed this routine for an extended period last season in Cleveland, rescuing a Browns team that had lost Deshaun Watson to a shoulder fracture. Despite not making his season debut until December, Flacco won Comeback Player of the Year honors after directing the Browns to an 11-6 season and a wild-card spot. The longtime Ravens starter had expressed continued interest in a second Browns season, but the team went in a different direction by signing Jameis Winston. The Colts then landed Flacco, who signed a one-year deal worth $4.5MM.
[RELATED: Near-Future Watson Benching Not On Browns’ Radar]
This contract is Flacco’s most lucrative since his Ravens extension expired after a season in Denver, and while the Colts have since seen the 17th-year veteran remains capable, the Browns did not want him back. Flacco confirmed, via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, he never received an offer to stay in Cleveland.
The former Super Bowl MVP had previously said he was surprised the Browns did not re-sign him, but a market did exist. Prior to committing to Shane Steichen‘s team, Flacco received an offer to return to the Eagles. The Colts did not rule out re-signing Gardner Minshew, but his price moved well beyond the team’s comfort zone. With the Raiders agreeing to terms with Minshew on a two-year, $25MM deal hours into the legal tampering period, the Colts pivoted to Flacco as Richardson insurance.
The AFC South team needed to cash in on that early, and although Richardson might not miss any time due to the hip pointer he sustained against the Steelers, Flacco proved a more accurate passer than the dynamic second-year starter. Richardson entered Week 4 with an NFL-low 49% completion rate; Flacco completed 61.5% of his throws (16-for-26, 168 yards) and tossed two touchdown passes against Pittsburgh.
While Indianapolis is not planning to sit Richardson to aid his development, Cleveland is stuck with Watson due to authorizing a fully guaranteed $230MM contract in 2022. Watson has wildly underwhelmed, costing an otherwise well-built Browns team. Winston came to Ohio after four seasons with the Saints. The former No. 1 overall pick lost his job to Andy Dalton in 2022 and backed up Derek Carr last season, but the Browns had sought him over Flacco.
In March, Watson supported a Winston signing. The Browns gave him a one-year, $4MM deal. Cleveland had considered a reunion with Jacoby Brissett but did not want to match the $8MM offered from the Patriots. The team was believed to have viewed Flacco as a backup plan in the event Winston and Brissett ended up elsewhere, and the fallout from this QB2 chapter ended a stunningly productive partnership.
Given Flacco’s performance last season, calls undoubtedly for him to replace Watson would be ever-present in Cleveland had the sides huddled on on the reunion the late-3o-something wanted. But he is now in the role Minshew played effectively last season. Indy deciding to rest Richardson would lead to more work from the 12-year starter-turned-QB2 nomad.
Watson wanted to be sure he wouldn’t hear Flacco chants this season. Mission accomplished…
From what I hear, the Browns front office asked what Massage Envy thought of Flacco and they said he was a model customer. He wasn’t considered a culture fit after that.
It’s really bizarre when you think about it… the Browns as an organization have and continue to bend over backwards to give Watson whatever he wants. Meanwhile his play has done nothing to warrant either his contract or the confidence shown in him. And they can’t really afford to build around him precisely because they threw so much guaranteed money at him when they were essentially bidding against themselves…
And that’s just even bringing you-know-what into the equation…
Browns FO is full of dumbasses
It’s more about ownership than staff. No HC/GM could have signed Watson to that deal w/o consent.
It’s well known that Berry is the one who pushed for the fully guaranteed contract. He needs to go, like yesterday.
First time head coach, first time GM, both very young. That isn’t by accident. Jimmy wants the ultimate say over the really important decisions, and Stefanski and Berry are more unlikely to stand up to him. At least Jerry Jones (who I also can’t stand) makes it absurdly obvious that he’s in charge…
Flacco’s biggest crime is that he likes to eat McNuggets – thus he doesn’t fit in with the rest of the Browns.
They are stuck with Watson why even mess around with Flacco?